1
as in apostasy
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as in desertion
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Recent Examples of defection
Part of a wave of dissident departures, Carvajal’s defection was akin to a dam breaking, then-US Senator Marco Rubio said at the time.
—
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The outcome gives House Republicans — who had a 217 to 214 majority leading up to Fuller's victory — another seat as any one defection has threatened to derail their legislative agenda in recent months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The defection brings Carney’s Liberals to 171 seats, just one short of the 172-seat majority needed to pass any bill without opposition support.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
As the 2026 tourney gets underway, the networks in the TNT Sports portfolio now reach a little under 60 million homes, and with an annual defection rate that’s been holding steady at 8%, CBS’ cable partners will likely land on the wrong side of 50 million subs by the end of 2027.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defection
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The outcome gives House Republicans — who had a 217 to 214 majority leading up to Fuller's victory — another seat as any one defection has threatened to derail their legislative agenda in recent months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The defection brings Carney’s Liberals to 171 seats, just one short of the 172-seat majority needed to pass any bill without opposition support.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
As the 2026 tourney gets underway, the networks in the TNT Sports portfolio now reach a little under 60 million homes, and with an annual defection rate that’s been holding steady at 8%, CBS’ cable partners will likely land on the wrong side of 50 million subs by the end of 2027.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defection
Noun
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Marc makes an example of the penitent, powerless Jeanne, reminding the rest of his flock of the punishment for apostasy and using her rough time among the heathens as proof of why none under his control should ever want to trade his order for such modern sin and depravity.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Dara Shikoh was accused of apostasy from Islam and tried under religious authority.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The core of the story is the desertion and betrayal of Roseanna McCoy by all concerned.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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Furthermore, the Ukrainian army is short-handed, facing around 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in January.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Whether or not there was ever actually a schism, the rumor mill was confident and uninformed.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Noun
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The criteria include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, having unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, emotional instability, paranoia or dissociation under stress, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
11 June 2026
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The ballad also aligns with the perspective of Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) abandonment and eventual joining of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz’s (Tim Allen) crew of toys that once belonged to Andy and now live with Bonnie.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The second major structural change involves one of the hallmarks of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1: initial scission at the S1 furin cleavage site.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
6 May 2022
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Wilson cautions more work is needed to explain how exactly spin results after scission.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2021
Noun
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At one point, Gates testified that Epstein used his infidelity to his wife Melinda Gates to try to keep their relationship intact.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 June 2026
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Betrayals and scandals like this are endemic to reality TV; the Bravoverse in particular is still living in the long shadow of 2023’s Scandoval, the tectonic collapse inside Vanderpump Rules that was also fueled by inter-group infidelity.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Opinion polls indicate that separatism in Alberta lacks broad appeal, however.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
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These tactical innovations have been reinforced by deliberate efforts at broadening the support base for Baloch separatism.—
Amira Jadoon,
The Conversation,
13 May 2026
Noun
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One of the biggest misconceptions, Gabay points out, is that success requires a massive social media following.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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Sensing this to be the case, Texas Tech's athletic department released a 21-minute video statement on Thursday evening to try and put out the flames from the Sorsby fallout, hoping to clear up any misconceptions from the ongoing case.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defection. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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